Jump to content


Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

anybody can advise on Dr.John


delirium

Recommended Posts

Hi,

I'm intermidiate piano player, and I'd like to

learn more about the blues etc, but not basics.

Is "Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano" DVD series

good for that? Anybody used these DVDs?

thanks

♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Replies 11
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Originally posted by cyborg:

Hi,

I'm intermidiate piano player, and I'd like to

learn more about the blues etc, but not basics.

Is "Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano" DVD series

good for that? Anybody used these DVDs?

thanks

I have it on VCR. I expect its the same as the DVD.

 

The most useful thing is the three volume set of books/CDs that are available separately. I think you will find the DVD interesting too, but I would definitely get the books.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by cyborg:

Hi,

I'm intermidiate piano player, and I'd like to

learn more about the blues etc, but not basics.

Is "Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano" DVD series

good for that? Anybody used these DVDs?

thanks

I have it on VCR. I expect its the same as the DVD.

 

The most useful thing is the three volume set of books/CDs that are available separately. I think you will find the DVD interesting too, but I would definitely get the books.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've seen that item also on CD/books 3 volume set,

maybe better would be buy CD not DVD...?

Is Dr.John good "teacher" or just playing and you're supposed to catch everything?

thanks

♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The cool thing about the Dr ohn DVD and CD/Book sets is that transcriptions are provided, and Dr. John plays just about everything at speed and then again at about half-speed. It's really inspiring, and if your hand independence is pretty decent, then you'll be able to get a lot out of these sets. Is he a good teacher? Well, that's a good question. But he breaks the parts down enough so you'll probably be able to pick it up.

Ernie Rideout, Private Citizen

Gee, that was quick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have some of the videos and the most recent DVD. I have been playing the blues for many years. I think the video and DVD are great. They are interesting and make for great listening. It does have value as a learning tool, but there is not a lot of "teaching" going on. IMO, trying to follow the Dr's hands is quite difficult. He is just too good!! The transcripts are of some limited value.

 

I think you might find that Chuck Levell's CD is more "teaching" oriented...check it out. You can find samples online.

 

Dr. John is one of my piano heros, but I did not get an awful lot out of his videos/DVDs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cyborg,

 

Garrafons assessment echos my thoughts exactly about Dr.John's video. The more adept you are at playing the more you will get out of it. I put it up for a while and come back to it once in a while and see what I can learn. He glides over the notes so fast and easy, it is hard to see. The best way is to go over a part of the transcriptions , play the video , repeat until you get it. I was definetly hoping he would break down the elements of his playing ,but he doesn't.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found this gem about 20+ years ago when it was a tape series. I did just fine with the tapes and the books, and later on I got a vhs video set. I did better by ear. I thought the video hard to follow and I don't use the same fingering, etc that the Doctor does. That said, to me this was the best instructional set I ever used. I just can't get enough of this style of music and "the famous lick!" :cool:
"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nope, there is a relatively new DVD called the Piano Styles of Dr. John. It's some good watchin! The Videos (he also has a CD collection) are much older. I don't know the actual age of the videos, but I do know I got mine a year or two before 1990....so...it's going back a bit. I don't recall the DVD coming with transcriptions...it may have, but I don't remember that being the case.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got the cassette set - which is indeed about 20 plus years old. I had to keep going back to it - since at first my 2 way coordination was not good enough to stride.

 

I learned what I wanted to learn (over an extended period) - which made it a good learning tool for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...